<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
RULE 14A-6(E)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
Akorn, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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Notes:
<PAGE>
Akorn, Inc.
100 Tri-State International
Suite 100
Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 15, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF AKORN, INC.:
The annual meeting of shareholders of Akorn, Inc. (the "Company") will be
held at 10:00 a.m. local time, on Friday, May 15, 1998 in the first floor
auditorium at 100 Tri-State International, Lincolnshire, Illinois for the
following purposes, as more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:
1. To elect a board of four directors.
2. To consider and vote upon an amendment to the Amended and Restated
Akorn, Inc. 1988 Incentive Compensation Program.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting and any adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 31, 1998 as
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the annual meeting and all adjournments thereof.
Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether
or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please mark, date and sign the
enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed stamped envelope.
Furnishing the enclosed proxy will not prevent you from voting in person at the
meeting should you wish to do so.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Rita J. McConville
-------------------------------
Rita J. McConville
Secretary
Lincolnshire, Illinois
April 3, 1998
<PAGE>
AKORN, INC.
100 Tri-State International
Suite 100
Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069
PROXY STATEMENT
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
To Be Held May 15, 1998
This proxy statement is furnished to shareholders of Akorn, Inc. (the
"Company") in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the
Company's Board of Directors for use at its annual meeting of shareholders to be
held at the date, time and place set forth in the accompanying notice and at any
adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"). The date of this Proxy Statement is April
3, 1998.
On March 31, 1998, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Meeting, the Company had outstanding no shares of
preferred stock and 17,781,254 shares of common stock, each of which is entitled
to one vote on all matters to be considered at the Meeting.
Shares represented by all properly executed proxies on the enclosed form
received in time for the Meeting will be voted at the Meeting. A proxy may be
revoked at any time before it is exercised by filing with the Secretary of the
Company an instrument revoking it or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date,
or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Unless revoked, the proxy will
be voted as specified and, if no specifications are made, will be voted in favor
of the proposed nominees and the amendment to the Incentive Compensation Program
as described herein.
The cost of soliciting proxies in the enclosed form will be borne by the
Company. In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by
personal interview, telephone, telefax and telegraph. Banks, brokerage houses
and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries will be requested to forward
solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the shares of common stock of
the Company; upon request, the Company will reimburse such persons for
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection therewith. The Company
has retained Corporate Investor Communications, Inc. to assist in the
distribution of proxies to brokers, banks, nominees and individuals, for which
it will be paid a fee of $1,500 and will be reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket
expenses.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's by-laws provide for a Board of four directors and only four
directors can be elected at the Meeting. The Board of Directors has nominated
four candidates for election at the Meeting and recommends that shareholders
vote FOR the election of all four nominees.
Proxies cannot be voted for more than four candidates. In the absence of
contrary instructions, the proxy holders will vote for the election of the four
nominees listed below. In the unanticipated event that one or more of such
persons is unavailable as a candidate for director, the persons named in the
accompanying proxy will vote for another candidate nominated by the Board of
Directors.
The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 1998, the age, principal
occupation and employment, position with the Company, directorships in other
public corporations, and year first elected a director of the Company, of each
individual nominated for election as director at the coming meeting. Unless
otherwise
<PAGE>
indicated, each nominee has been engaged in the principal occupation or
occupations shown for more than the past five years.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Occupation
and Directorships in
Name and Age Other Public Corporations Director Since
- ------------ ------------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Floyd Benjamin, 54 Executive Vice President of the Company 1996
and President of Taylor Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (a subsidiary of the Company) since
May 1996; president of Pasadena Research
Laboratories, Inc. ("PRL") from October
1994 to May 1996 and consultant to PRL
from October 1993 to October 1994;
president and chief executive officer of
Neocrin, Inc. (biomedical venture capital
company) from February 1992 to October
1993; prior to February 1992, chief
operating officer of Lyphomed, Inc.
(injectable pharmaceuticals)
Daniel E. Bruhl, M.D., 55 Ophthalmologist; President of the Surgery 1983
Center of Fort Worth and director of
Medsynergies, Inc., (private ophthalmology
practice management company); director of
Surgical Care Affiliates (NYSE), (outpatient
surgery center company), from 1983 to 1996,
when it merged with Healthsouth Corporation
Doyle S. Gaw, 66 Private investor 1975
John N. Kapoor, Ph.D., 54 Chief Executive Officer of the Company 1991
since May 1996; Chairman of the Board
of the Company since May 1995 and from
December 1991 to January 1993, and acting
Chairman of the Board of the Company from
April 1993 to May 1995; chairman of the
Board of Option Care, Inc. (infusion services
and supplies); chief executive officer of
Option Care, Inc. from August 1993 to April
1996; president of E.J. Financial Enterprises,
Inc., (venture capital company), since April
1990; director of Unimed, Inc. and NeoPharm,
Inc. (specialty pharmaceutical companies)
</TABLE>
During the year ended December 31, 1997, the Board of Directors of the
Company held four meetings. The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, of
which Dr. Bruhl and Mr. Gaw are members, and a Compensation Committee, of which
Dr. Bruhl and Mr. Gaw are members. The Board of Directors does not have a
Nominating Committee. The Audit Committee, which met twice during 1997, is
responsible for consulting with the independent auditors with regard to the plan
of audit, reviewing the plan and the results of
<PAGE>
audits of the Company by its independent auditors and discussing audit
recommendations with management and reporting the results of its reviews to the
Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee met once during 1997 to review
various compensation matters with respect to executive officers and directors.
The composition of Board committees is reviewed and determined each year at the
initial meeting of the Board after the annual meeting of shareholders.
For services as Chairman of the Board and as a consultant to the Company,
Dr. Kapoor receives a fee of $50,000 per year. Each other director who is not a
salaried officer or consultant of the Company receives a fee for his services as
a director of $1,000 per regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $250 per
telephone meeting and $500 per committee meeting, plus reimbursement of his
expenses related to those services. In addition, the chairman of each committee
(other than Dr. Kapoor) receives an annual fee of $2,500.
All directors of the Company participate in the Company's Stock Option Plan
for Directors, pursuant to which each director of the Company is granted an
option to acquire 5,000 shares of Company common stock on the day after each
annual meeting of shareholders at which he is elected to serve as a director.
Any director appointed between annual meetings is entitled to receive a pro rata
portion of an option to acquire 5,000 shares. The Compensation Committee may, in
its sole discretion, grant an option to purchase up to 100,000 shares to a
person who is not already a director and who becomes a director at any time; no
member of the Compensation Committee is eligible to be granted such an option
and any director who has been granted such an option is not permitted to serve
on the Compensation Committee for one year after such grant. Options granted
under the plan expire five years from the date of grant. The option exercise
price for all options granted under the plan is the fair market value of the
shares covered by the option at the time of the grant.
Under agreements between the Company and the John N. Kapoor Trust , an
entity controlled by Dr. Kapoor (the "Trust"), the Trust is entitled to
designate two individuals to be nominated and recommended by the Company's Board
of Directors for election as a director. The Trust has designated only Dr.
Kapoor for this purpose and is not expected to designate a second individual for
nomination as a director prior to the Meeting.
<PAGE>
BENEFICIAL OWNERS
As of March 31, 1998, the following persons were directors or named
executive officers with beneficial ownership. Dr. Kapoor is the only person
known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of five percent or more of the
Company's common stock. His address is 225 East Deerpath, Suite 250, Lake
Forest, Illinois 60045. The information set forth below has been determined in
accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 based upon
information furnished by the persons listed.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Beneficial Owner Shares Beneficially Owned (1) Percent of Class
- ---------------- ----------------------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Directors and Nominees
Floyd Benjamin 516,667 (2) 2.74%
Daniel E. Bruhl, M.D. 296,767 (3) 1.57%
Doyle S. Gaw 130,824 (3) 0.69%
John N. Kapoor, Ph.D. 4,308,494 (4) 22.83%
Named Executive Officers (5)
Rita J. McConville 30,000 0.16%
R. Scott Zion 99,150 (6) 0.53%
Directors and officers as a group (6 persons) 5,381,902 (7) 28.52%
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(2) Mr. Benjamin's shares are held by a trust of which Mr. Benjamin and his
wife are trustees and their child is beneficiary. Includes 50,000 shares
issuable pursuant to options granted by the Company directly to Mr.
Benjamin.
(3) The reported shares include options to purchase shares. The shares
reported for Directors Bruhl and Gaw each include options to purchase
30,000 shares. In addition, Dr. Bruhl's retirement plan holds 64,266 of
the listed shares.
(4) Of such 4,308,494 shares, (I) 4,207,400 are owned directly by the John N.
Kapoor Trust dated September 20, 1989 (the "Trust") of which Dr. Kapoor is
the sole trustee and beneficiary, (ii) 30,000 are owned by a trust, the
trustee of which is Dr. Kapoor's wife and the beneficiaries of which are
their children, and (iii) 71,094 are issuable pursuant to options granted
by the Company directly to Dr. Kapoor.
(5) Mr. Benjamin and Dr. Kapoor are also named executive officers of the
Company, and information regarding their beneficial ownership is included
in this table under the section, "Directors and Nominees."
(6) Of such 99,150 shares, 20,400 are owned by Mr. Zion's minor children.
(7) Of such 5,381,902 shares, 181,094 are not presently outstanding, but are
issuable pursuant to option rights described in the preceding footnotes and
108,750 are issuable pursuant to options held by named executive officers
of the Company who are not also directors.
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes the compensation paid by the Company for
services rendered during the year ended December 31, 1997, the six months ended
December 31, 1996 and the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996 to each person who,
during 1997, served as the chief executive officer of the Company and to each
other executive officer of the Company whose total annual salary and bonus for
1997 exceeded $100,000.
Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-Term
Compensation
------------
Annual Compensation Securities
--------------------------------------------------------------- Underlying All Other (1)
Name and Principal Position Time Period Salary Bonus (2) Options/SARs Compensation
- --------------------------- ---------------------------------- ------- --------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John N. Kapoor, Ph.D. (3) Year ended December 31, 1997 78,750 21,000 5,000 40,000
Chairman and Chief Six months ended December 31, 1996 34,375 - 85,938 -
Executive Officer Year ended June 30, 1996 10,000 - 5,000 40,000
Floyd Benjamin (4) Year ended December 31, 1997 200,000 - 5,000 2,250
Executive Vice President Six months ended December 31, 1996 100,000 - 50,000 -
Year ended June 30, 1996 16,667 - 3,750 -
R. Scott Zion (5) Year ended December 31, 1997 175,774 54,000 125,000 101,183
Senior Vice President
Rita J. McConville (6) Year ended December 31, 1997 87,351 26,250 45,000 688
Chief Financial Officer
</TABLE>
(1) Represents contributions to the Company's Savings and Retirement Plan,
except as indicated in notes (3) and (5).
(2) Represents bonuses awarded for 1997 performance paid in 1998.
(3) During the years ended June 30, 1996 and December 31, 1997, Dr. Kapoor
received $50,000 for his services as Chairman, $40,000 of which was waived
in exchange for other consideration, as described under "Transactions with
Shareholders and Directors." Dr. Kapoor became Chief Executive Officer May
3, 1996. Beginning in July, 1996, Dr. Kapoor has received $68,750 annually
for his services as Chief Executive Officer.
(4) Mr. Benjamin became an officer of the Company May 3, 1996.
(5) Mr. Zion became an officer of the Company January 4, 1997. His Other
Compensation includes $98,739 for reimbursement of relocation expenses and
$2,444 auto allowance.
(6) Ms. McConville became an officer of the Company February 28, 1997.
<PAGE>
Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential realizable
value at assumed
annual rates of stock
price appreciation for
Individual Grants option term
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Number of Percent of total
securities Options/SARs Exercise
underlying Granted to or base
options/SARs Employees in price Expiration 5% 10%
Name granted (#) Fiscal year ($/Sh) date ($) ($)
- ---- ----------- ----------- ------ ---- --- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John N. Kapoor, Ph.D. 5,000 1% 2.28 2/28/02 3,150 6,960
Floyd Benjamin 5,000 1% 2.28 2/28/02 3,150 6,960
Rita J. McConville 45,000 5% 2.38 2/28/02 29,528 65,248
R. Scott Zion 125,000 13% 2.38 2/28/02 82,021 181,245
</TABLE>
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and FY-End Option/SAR Values
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Value of
securities underlying unexercised in-the-
unexercised options/ money options/
SARs at FY-end (#) SARs at FY-end ($)
---------------------- --------------------
Value
Shares acquired Realized Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Name on exercise (#) ($) Unexercisable Unexercisable
- ---- --------------- --- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John N. Kapoor, Ph.D. - - 67,969 84,401
42,969 64,239
Floyd Benjamin - - 33,750 47,381
25,000 37,375
Rita J. McConville - - 11,250 14,063
33,750 42,188
R. Scott Zion - - 31,250 39,063
93,750 117,188
</TABLE>
Employment Agreements
In May 1996 the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr.
Benjamin calling for an annual salary of $200,000, increased annually at the
discretion of the Board of Directors, plus bonuses determined by a formula
stated in the agreement.
The agreement terminates three years from inception. If Mr. Benjamin's
employment is otherwise terminated by the Company without "cause" as defined in
the agreement, he is entitled to a lump sum payment
<PAGE>
equal to his annual salary plus any performance-based bonus to which he would
have been entitled had the performance goals been met.
Compensation Committee Interlocks
Dr. Bruhl and Mr. Gaw, who comprise the Compensation Committee, are both
independent, non-employee directors of the Company.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews, analyzes and
makes recommendations related to compensation packages for the Company's
executive officers, evaluates the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and
administers the grant of stock options under the Company's Incentive
Compensation Program.
The Company's executive compensation policies are designed to (a) provide
competitive levels of compensation to attract and retain qualified executives,
(b) reward achievements in corporate performance, (c) integrate pay with annual
and long-term performance goals and (d) align the interests of executives with
the goals of shareholders.
Compensation paid to Company executives consists of salaries, annual cash
incentive bonuses and long-term incentive opportunities in the form of stock
options.
Salary
Dr. John N. Kapoor, the Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, has
served as chief executive officer of the Company since May 3, 1996. During
fiscal 1996 Dr. Kapoor received no additional compensation for serving as the
Company's chief executive officer. Subsequent to June 30, 1996, Dr. Kapoor has
received an annual salary of $68,750 for his services as chief executive
officer. Dr. Kapoor's salary for the six months ended December 31, 1996 and for
the year ended December 31, 1997, and the salaries of Ms. McConville and Mr.
Zion, were determined after considering the executive compensation policies
noted above, the impact the executive has on the Company, the skills and
experience the executive brings to the job, competition in the marketplace for
those skills and the potential of the executive in the job. Mr. Benjamin's
salary was fixed in his employment agreement.
Incentive Bonus
Annual incentive compensation for executive officers during 1997 was based
on corporate earnings objectives as well as position-specific performance
objectives. Mr. Benjamin's employment agreement specifies the formula under
which he is to be awarded incentive bonuses. Under those criteria, he did not
earn a bonus for 1997. The bonuses awarded to Dr. Kapoor, Ms. McConville and
Mr. Zion, as noted in the compensation table, were paid in 1998.
Stock Options
The Committee's practice with respect to stock options has been to grant
options based upon the attainment of Company performance goals and to vest
options based on the passage of time. The option grants noted in the
compensation table include grants upon initial employment as well as grants
issued under the Stock Option Plan for Directors to those named executive
officers who are also directors.
<PAGE>
It is the responsibility of the Committee to address the issues raised by
tax laws under which certain non-performance based compensation in excess of $1
million per year paid to executives of public companies is non-deductible to the
Company and to determine whether any actions with respect to this limit need to
be taken by the Company. It is not anticipated that any executive officer of
the Company will receive any compensation in excess of this limit.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
Daniel E. Bruhl, M.D. Doyle S. Gaw
Performance Graph
The graph below compares the cumulative shareholder return on the Company's
Common Stock for the last five years with the NASDAQ US Index and the NASDAQ
Pharmaceutical Index. In the past, the Company used the S&P Small Cap 600
Index, and that index is also presented below for comparison purposes. The
Company elected to change the comparative index to one more representative of
the market in which the Company's stock trades. The graph assumes $100 was
invested in December 1992 in the Company Common Stock and the three indices
presented. The cumulative total return on the Company's Common Stock for the
period presented was 81%. The cumulative returns for the NASDAQ US, the NASDAQ
Pharmaceutical and the S&P Small Cap 600 were 140%, 27% and 124%, respectively.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL RETURN
CHART
NASDAQ US NASDAQ PHARM S&P SMALL CAP 600 AKRN
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
12/31/92 100 100 100 100
12/31/93 115 89 119 163
12/31/94 112 67 113 163
12/31/95 159 123 147 128
12/31/96 195 123 178 97
12/31/97 240 127 224 181
</TABLE>
TRANSACTIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS
For services performed by Dr. Kapoor in connection with the Company's
acquisition of Taylor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Trust received 125,000 shares
of Company common stock which were subject to forfeiture if the market price of
the Company common stock did not reach $5.00 by January 15, 1996. In August
1995, the Company, the Trust and Dr. Kapoor entered into an agreement under
which (i) the forfeiture period was extended to January 15, 1998, (ii)
forfeiture would not occur in the event that persons unaffiliated with Dr.
Kapoor acquired beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding common
stock of the Company and (iii) Dr. Kapoor waived his right to receive $40,000
otherwise payable to him by the Company for serving as Chairman of the Board in
fiscal 1996. On May 23, 1997, the Company, the Trust and Dr. Kapoor entered
into an agreement under which (i) the forfeiture period was extended to January
15, 2000 and (ii) Dr. Kapoor waived his right to receive $40,000 otherwise
payable to him by the Company for serving as Chairman of the Board in 1997. On
February 20, 1998, the Company's common stock closed at $5.1875, with the result
that the above-described forfeiture provision was terminated.
In connection with the acquisition of Pasadena Research Laboratories, Inc.
("PRL") on May 31, 1996, the Company issued to Mr. Floyd Benjamin, as a
shareholder of PRL, 466,667 shares of Company common stock. This amount was
determined by arm's length negotiation between the Company and the PRL
shareholders.
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
AKORN, INC. 1988 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
General
The Company's Amended and Restated Akorn, Inc. 1988 Incentive Compensation
Program (the "Program") was originally adopted by the Board of Directors and
approved by the shareholders in 1988. In 1993 and 1997 the Board adopted and
the shareholders approved amendments to the Program increasing the number of
shares issuable thereunder. The Board of Directors has subsequently adopted
additional amendments to the Program increasing the number of shares issuable
thereunder and revising the definition of Fair Market Value. These amendments
are now submitted to the shareholders for approval.
At the Meeting, the shareholders will be requested to approve an amendment
to the Program for the purpose of increasing the number of shares issuable under
the Program from 3.0 million shares to 4.5 million shares and to revise the
definition of Fair Market Value to reflect current practice (the "Amendment").
The following description of the Program and its amendments is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Program itself, attached as Exhibit A.
Purpose of the Proposal
The Board of Directors continues to believe that the growth of the Company
depends significantly upon the efforts of its key employees. The Board of
Directors also believes that providing key employees and consultants with a
proprietary interest in the growth and performance of the company is crucial to
stimulating individual performance while at the same time enhancing shareholder
value. At March 31, 1998, 1,565,688 options had been issued to current
employees and consultants, and only 514,843 options remained available for
future grants. The Board of Directors is proposing a 1.5 million share increase
in the number of shares issuable through the Program in order that the Company
may continue to provide an effective means to secure, motivate and retain key
personnel. The Board of Directors is proposing to change the definition of Fair
Market Value from "the average of high and low sale prices quoted on such
exchange or quotation system as reported in the Wall Street Journal for the
trading day next preceding applicable date..." to "the closing price quoted on
such exchange or quotation system as reported in the Wall Street Journal for the
applicable date..." The definition of Fair Market Value is being revised to
reflect the availability of real time data through the Nasdaq National Market
and to reflect changes in generally accepted accounting principals. Assuming
the Amendment is approved, the 2,014,843 shares of Common Stock underlying the
options issuable under the Program would have a market value of $12,340,913 on
March 31, 1998, based on the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by
the Nasdaq National Market for that date.
The Amendment is being submitted to the shareholders for approval in order
to satisfy the requirements of the Nasdaq National Market.
Awards to be Granted
The grant of options under the Program is entirely in the discretion of the
Compensation Committee.
Terms of the Program
Eligibility
<PAGE>
The Program provides that key employees and consultants of the Company,
including directors who are also officers of the Company, will be eligible to
receive options under the Program when designated by the Compensation Committee.
Currently, there are approximately 50 key employees eligible to receive options
under the Program.
Shares Issuable through the Program
If the Amendment is approved, a total of 1,500,000 additional shares of
Common Stock will be authorized to be issued under the Program. As of March 31,
1998, a total of 514,843 shares were available for issuance under the Program,
and 2,080,740 shares were subject to outstanding options. On March 31, 1998,
the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq
National Market, was $6.125.
Adjustments under the Program
The Program provides that proportionate adjustments will be made to the
number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Program, including shares
subject to outstanding options, in the event of any recapitalization, stock
dividend, stock split, combination of shares or other change in Common Stock.
In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, or a transfer of substantially all the property or more than two-
thirds of the then outstanding shares to another corporation, notice must be
given to every participant in the Program not less than 40 days prior to the
anticipated effective date of the proposed transaction, and every option granted
under the Program shall be accelerated and become immediately exercisable in
full prior to a date specified in such notice, no more than 10 days prior to the
anticipated effective date of the proposed transaction. If the transaction is
consummated, each previously unexercised option shall terminate. If the
transaction does not occur, the options will remain unexercised.
Terms of Stock Options
The Compensation Committee determines the number and purchase price of the
shares subject to options, the terms of the options and the time or times that
the options become exercisable, provided that the purchase price may not be less
than 50% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The
Compensation Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any option or may
determine to cancel any option in order to make a participant eligible for the
grant of an option at a lower price. The Compensation Committee may approve the
purchase by the Company of an unexercised stock option for the difference
between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares covered by
such option.
The option exercise price may be paid in cash, in shares of Common Stock
which must have been held for at least six months, in a combination of cash and
shares of Common Stock or through a broker assisted exercise arrangement
approved in advance by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee
determines at what time or times during its term a stock option shall be
exercisable, provided, however, that no stock option granted to an officer,
director or beneficial owner of more than 10% of the Common Stock who is subject
to Section 16 of the 1934 Act may be exercised within the six-month period
immediately following the date of grant.
The Committee determines the term of each Option granted under the Program,
but such term may not exceed ten years and one day from the date of grant.
Amendments to the Program
<PAGE>
The Board of Directors may amend or discontinue the Program at any time.
No amendment or discontinuance, however, may change or impair, without the
consent of the optionee, an option previously granted. Under the terms of the
Program, shareholder approval is required for an amendment if it is necessary to
comply with rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Pursuant to
recent amendments to Rule 16b-3, shareholder approval of amendments is no longer
required. The Board seeks approval of the Amendment for purposes of compliance
with Nasdaq National Market rules, which require approval by shareholders of an
amendment to a compensation plan for officers or directors that materially
increases the number of shares issuable under the plan. Shareholder approval of
subsequent amendments to the Program will be sought if required by Nasdaq
National Market or other applicable rules.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Under existing federal income tax provisions, a participant who receives
non-qualified stock options will not normally realize any income, nor will the
Company normally be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes,
in the year of grant.
When a non-qualified stock option is exercised, the participant will
realize ordinary income measured by the difference between the aggregate fair
market value of the shares of Common Stock on the exercise date and the
aggregate purchase price of the shares of Common Stock acquired through the
exercise, and, subject to compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code, the
Company will be entitled to a deduction in the year the option is exercised
equal to the amount the employee is required to treat as ordinary income.
If the exercise price of an option is paid by the surrender of previously-
owned shares, the basis and the holding period of the previously-owned shares
carries over to some of the shares received in exchange therefor. The income
recognized on exercise is added to the basis of the remaining shares received.
When the exercisability of a stock option granted under the Program is
accelerated upon a change of control, any excess on the date of the change of
control of the fair market value of the shares subject to the option over the
exercise price may be characterized as "parachute payments" (within the meaning
of Section 280G of the Code) if the sum of such amounts and any other such
contingent payments received by the employee in connection with the change of
control exceeds an amount equal to three times the "base amount" for such
employee. The base amount generally is the average of the annual compensation
of such employee for the five years preceding such change in ownership or
control. An "excess parachute payment" with respect to any employee is the
excess of the present value of the parachute payments to such person, in the
aggregate, over and above such person's base amount. If the amounts received by
an employee upon a change of control are characterized as parachute payments,
such employee will be subject to a 20% excise tax on the excess parachute
payments pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code, and the Company will be denied
any deduction with respect to such excess parachute payments.
This summary of federal income tax consequences of non-qualified stock
options does not purport to be complete. Reference should be made to the
applicable provisions of the Code.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power
present or represented at the Meeting is required for the approval of the
amendment to the Program.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR
the proposal to approve the amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated 1988
Incentive Compensation Program.
<PAGE>
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
During 1997, Mr. Gaw, a director of the Company, failed to file timely with
the Securities and Exchange Commission one Form 4 to report one transaction, as
required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Ms.
McConville, a named executive officer of the Company, failed to file timely with
the Securities and Exchange Commission one Form 3 to report initial holdings and
Mr. Zion, a named executive officer of the Company, failed to file timely with
the Securities and Exchange Commission one Form 4 to report three transactions.
All such transactions have been reported on amended annual statements on Form 5.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company's independent
auditors for the year ended December 31, 1997, is expected to attend the
Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if he wishes to do so and
will be available to respond to questions.
OTHER MATTERS
Quorum and Voting
The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding
shares of common stock of the Company is necessary to constitute a quorum.
Shareholders voting, or abstaining from voting, by proxy on any issue will be
counted as present for purposes of constituting a quorum. If a quorum is
present, (i) the election of the four directors to be elected at the Meeting
will be determined by plurality vote, that is, the four nominees receiving the
largest number of votes will be elected, (ii) a majority of votes actually cast
at the Meeting is required to approve the proposal to amend the Company's
Amended and Restated Incentive Compensation Program and (iii) a majority of
votes actually cast will decide any other matter properly brought before the
Meeting for a vote of shareholders. Shares for which proxy authority to vote
for any nominee for election as a director is withheld by the shareholder and
shares that have not been voted by brokers who may hold shares on behalf of the
beneficial owners ("broker non-votes") will not be counted as voted for the
affected nominee. With respect to all other matters, shares not voted as a
result of abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered as voted for
purposes of determining whether or not a majority of votes were cast for such
matters.
Other Business
Management is unaware of any matter for action by shareholders at the
Meeting other than those described in the accompanying notice. The enclosed
proxy, however, will confer discretionary authority with respect to any other
matter that may properly come before the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof.
It is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote in
accordance with their best judgment on any such matter.
Shareholder Proposals
Any shareholder who desires to present a proposal qualified for inclusion
in the Company's proxy materials for the annual meeting of shareholders to be
held in 1999 must forward the proposal in writing to the Secretary of the
Company at the address shown on the first page of this proxy statement in time
to arrive at the Company no later than September 10, 1998.
<PAGE>
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Rita J. McConville
Rita J. McConville
Secretary
Lincolnshire, Illinois
April 3, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
SET FORTH BELOW IS THE TEXT OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED AKORN, INC.
1988 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM, AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED.
MATERIAL TO BE ADDED AS A RESULT OF THE AMENDMENT IS SHOWN IN
BOLD FACE, AND MATERIAL TO BE DELETED IS SHOWN IN BRACKETS.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AKORN, INC.
1988 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
February 12, 1998
1. Purpose. The purpose of the 1988 Incentive Compensation Program (the
"Program") of Akorn, Inc. (the "Company") is to advance the interests of the
Company by furnishing economic incentives in the form of stock options
("Options") designed to attract, retain and motivate key employees.
2. Administration.
2.1 Composition. The Program shall be administered by a committee
consisting of two or more members of the Board (the "Committee") who are
disinterested persons in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
2.2 Authority. The Committee shall have plenary authority to award
Options under the Program, to interpret the Program, to establish any rules
or regulations relating to the Program which it determines to be
appropriate, and to make any other determination which it believes
necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Program. Its
decisions in matters relating to the Program shall be final and conclusive
on the Company and participants.
3. Eligible Employees. Key employees and consultants of the company
(including officers who also serve as directors of the Company) and its
subsidiaries shall become eligible to receive Options under the Plan when
designated by the Committee. Employees may be designated individually or by
groups or categories, as the Committee deems appropriate. With respect to
participants not subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, the Committee may
delegate to appropriate personnel of the Company its authority to designate
participants and to determine the number of Options to be received by those
participants.
4. Shares Subject to the Program.
4.1 Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section
6.5, the number of shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company
("Common Stock"), which may be issued under the Program shall not exceed
[3,000,000] 4,500,000 shares of Common Stock.
4.2 Cancellation. In the event that an Option granted hereunder
expires or is terminated or cancelled unexercised as to any shares of
Common Stock, such shares may again be issued under the Program pursuant to
Options. The Committee may also determine to cancel, and agree to the
cancellation of, Options in order to make a particular participant eligible
for the grant of an Option at a lower price than the Option to be
cancelled.
4.3 Type of Common Stock. Common Stock issued under the Program in
connection with Options may be authorized and unissued shares or issued
shares held as treasury shares.
<PAGE>
5. Options. An Option is a right to purchase shares of Common Stock from
the Company. Each Option granted by the Committee under this Program shall be
subject to the following terms and conditions.
5.1 Price. The Option price per share shall be determined by the
Committee but shall not be less than 50% of the fair market value on the
date of grant of the Option. "Fair Market Value" shall be determined as
follows: if the Common Stock is listed on any national exchange or any
automatic quotation system which provides sales quotations, the fair market
value shall be the [average of high and low sale prices] closing price
quoted on such exchange or quotation system as reported in the Wall Street
Journal for the [trading day next preceding] applicable date (i.e. date of
grant, exercise or tax withholding) or if there are no trades on such date,
then on the preceding date on which a trade did occur, subject to
adjustment under Section 6.5.
5.2 Number. The number of shares of Common stock subject to the
Option shall be determined by the Committee, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 6.5.
5.3 Duration and Time for Exercise. Subject to earlier termination
as provided in Section 6.5, the term of each Option shall be determined by
the Committee but shall not exceed ten years and one day from the date of
grant. Each Option shall become exercisable at such time or times during
its term as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. The
Committee may accelerate the date on which an Option becomes exercisable.
5.4 Repurchase. Upon approval of the Committee, the Company may
repurchase a previously granted Option from a participant by mutual
agreement before such Option has been exercised by payment to the
participant of the amount per share by which (i) the Fair Market Value (as
defined in Section 5.1) of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the
date of repurchase exceeds (ii) the Option price.
5.5 Manner of Exercise. An Option may be exercised in whole or in
part, by giving written notice to the Company, specifying the number of
shares of Common Stock to be purchased and accompanied by the full purchase
price for such shares. The Option price shall be payable in United States
dollars upon exercise of the Option and may be paid by (i) cash; (ii)
uncertified or certified check; (iii) bank draft; (iv) delivery of shares
of Common Stock held for a period of six months in payment of all or any
part of the Option price, which shares shall be valued for this purpose at
the Fair Market Value on the date such Option is exercised; (v) delivery of
a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions
to a broker approved by the Company (with a copy to the Company) to
promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay
the exercise price; (vi) or in such other manner as may be authorized from
time to time by the Committee. In the case of delivery of an uncertified
check or bank draft upon exercise of an Option, no shares shall be issued
until the check or draft has been paid in full. Prior to the issuance of
shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Option, a participant shall
have no rights as a shareholder.
6. General.
6.1 Effective Date. The Program will become effective upon its
approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting
power present or represented at a meeting of the shareholders. Unless
approved within one year after the date of the Program's adoption by the
Board of Directors, the Program shall not be effective for any purpose
Prior to the approval of the Program by the Company's shareholders, the
Board may award Options, but if such approval is not received in the
specified period, then such awards shall be of no effect.
<PAGE>
6.2 Duration. The Program shall remain in effect until all Options
granted under the Program have either been satisfied by the issuance of
shares of Common Stock or been terminated under the terms of the Program.
No Option may be granted under the Program after the fifteenth anniversary
of the date the Program is approved by the Company's shareholders.
6.3 Non-transferability of Options. No Option may be transferred,
pledged or assigned by the holder thereof, (except, in the event of the
holder's death, by will or the laws of descent and distribution) and the
Company shall not be required to recognize any attempted assignment of such
rights by any participant. During a participant's lifetime, an Option may
be exercised only by him or by his guardian or legal representative.
6.4 Additional Condition. Anything in this Program to the contrary
notwithstanding, (a) the Company may, if it shall determine it necessary or
desirable for any reason, at the time of award of an Option or the issuance
of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Option, require the recipient
of the Option, as a condition to the receipt thereof or to the receipt of
shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise thereof, to deliver to the
Company a written representation of present intention to acquire the Option
or the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant thereto for his own account
for investment and not for distribution; and (b) if at any time the company
further determines, in its sole discretion, that the listing, registration
or qualification (or any updating of any such document) of any Option of
the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant thereto is necessary on any
securities exchange or under any federal or state securities or blue sky
law, or that the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is
necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with the grant
of any Option or the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise
thereof, such Option shall not be granted or such shares of Common Stock
shall not be issued, as the case may be, in whole or in part, unless such
listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been
effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.
6.5 Adjustment upon Changes in Capitalization or Control.
(a) In the event of any recapitalization, stock dividend, stock
split, combination of shares or other change in the Common Stock, the
number of shares of Common Stock then subject to the Program, shall be
adjusted in proportion to the change in outstanding shares of Common
Stock. In the event of any such adjustments, the purchase price of
any Option and the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to any
Option shall be adjusted as and to the extent appropriate, in the
reasonable discretion of the Committee, to provide participants with
the same relative rights before and after such adjustment.
(b) If there is proposed a dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, or a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company
with one or more corporations in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation, or a transfer of substantially all the property
or more than two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of the Company
to another corporation, the Committee shall cause written notice of
the proposed transaction to be given to every participant in the
Program not less than 40 days prior to the anticipated effective date
of the proposed transactions, and every [Incentive] Option granted
under the Program shall be accelerated and become immediately
exercisable in full by such participant prior to a date specified in
such notice, which date shall be not more than 10 days prior to the
anticipated effective date of the proposed transaction. The
participant shall notify the Company, in writing, that he intends to
exercise his Options, in whole or in part, and the participant may
condition such exercise upon, and provide
<PAGE>
that such exercise shall become effective at the time immediately
prior to, the consummation of the proposed transaction. If the
proposed transaction is consummated, each Option, to the extent not
previously exercised prior to the date specified in the foregoing
notice, shall terminate on the effective date of such consummation. If
the proposed transaction is not consummated and the participant has so
provided, the Options shall remain unexercised.
6.6 Option Agreements. The terms of each Option shall be stated in
an agreement, the form of which has been approved by the Committee.
6.7 Withholding.
(a) The Company shall have the right to withhold from any shares
issuable under the Program or to collect as a condition of issuance,
any taxes required by law to be withheld. At any time when a
participant is required to pay to the Company an amount required to be
withheld under applicable income tax laws upon exercise of an Option,
the participant may satisfy this obligation in whole or in part by
electing (the "Election") to have the Company withhold from the
distribution shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount
required to be withheld. The value of the shares to be withheld shall
be based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date that
the amount of tax to be withheld shall be determined ("Tax Date").
(b) Each Election must be made prior to the Tax Date. The
Committee may disapprove of any Election, may suspend or terminate the
right to make Elections, or may provide with respect to any Option
that the right to make Elections shall not apply to such Option. An
Election is irrevocable.
(c) If a participant is an officer of the Company within the
meaning of Section 16 of the 1934 Act, then an Election is subject to
the following additional restrictions:
(1) No Election shall be effective for a Tax Date which
occurs within six months of the grant of the award.
(2) The Election either (i) must be made six months prior to
the Tax Date, (ii) must be made during a period beginning on the
third business day following the date of release for publication
of the Company's quarterly or annual summary statements of
earnings and ending on the twelfth business day following such
date (a "Window Period") or (iii) may be made in advance but must
take effect during a Window Period.
6.8 No Continued Employment. No participant under the Program shall
have any right, because of his or her participation, to continue in the
employ of the Company for any period of time or to any right to continue
his or her present or any other rate of compensation.
6.9 Amendment of the Program. The Board may amend or discontinue the
Program at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment or
discontinuance shall change or impair, without the consent of the
recipient, an Option previously granted; and further provided that if any
such amendment requires shareholder approval to meet the requirements of
Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any successor rule,
such amendment shall be subject to the approval of the shareholders of the
Company.
<PAGE>
TEXT OF PROXY CARD
PROXY This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of
AKORN, INC.
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints John N. Kapoor and Rita J.
McConville or either of them proxy for the undersigned, with full power of
substitution, to represent the undersigned and to vote, as designated below, all
of the shares of Common Stock of Akorn, Inc. (the "Company") that the
undersigned is entitled to vote held of record by the undersigned on March 31,
1998, at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on May 15,
1998 (the "Annual Meeting"), and at all adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the nominees listed below.
1. Election of Directors.
FOR [_] all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below)
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY [_] to vote for all nominees listed below.
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
strike a line through the nominee's name in the list below:
Daniel E. Bruhl, M.D. Floyd Benjamin Doyle S. Gaw John N. Kapoor, Ph.D.
2. Proposal to amend the Amended and Restated Akorn, Inc. 1988 Incentive
Compensation Program.
FOR [_] AGAINST [_] ABSTAIN [_]
3. In their discretion to vote upon such other business as may properly come
before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.
(Please See Reverse Side)
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed
herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will
be voted FOR the nominees and FOR the proposals listed over. The individuals
designated above will vote in their discretion on any other matter that may
properly come before the meeting.
Date: ___________________________
_________________________________
Signature of Shareholder
_________________________________
Signature if held jointly
Please sign exactly as name
appears on the certificate or
certificates representing shares
to be voted by this proxy, as
shown on the label to the left.
When signing as executor,
administrator, attorney, trustee,
or guardian please give full title
as such. If a corporation, please
sign full corporation name by
president or other authorized
officer. If a partnership, please
sign in partnership name by
authorized persons.
Please mark, sign, date and return this proxy promptly using the enclosed
envelope.
